The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-02-17

sulnClent,
This is a question Of very grave inn
portance to the State, and should be
treated with the greatest care and de-
liberation.
l therefore commend it to your wis
dom and prudence, to the end that
you take such action as will best sub
serve the interests of the people and
the State.
| cannot dismiss this subject with
odt calling your attention to the cruel,
shameful, and inhuman practice OF
consigning children to the penitentia-
ry. To them the penitentiary is sim
ply a school of crime BY their asso-
citation with hardened criminals and
felons, every trace of their better ma
ture is soon destroyed and every hope
of future manhood and good citizen
ship is blasted.
l hope the day is not far distant
when we shall be able to establish and
maintain a system of reformatory
schools for this class Of our convicts,
where they may be redeemed from
their evil ways and propensities, and
trained and educated to become good
and useful citizens.
BANK OF TENNESSEE DEPOsIToRs,
A number OF citizens of Tennessee
have memorialized your Honorable
Bodies, representing that they are de-
positors in the Bank of Tennessee
that they have never withdrawn their
deposits, and are consequently credi-
tors of that institution, and through
it, creditors of the State If this be
true, then it is unquestionably the du-
ty OF the State to recognize its obliga-
tions and to settle with these claimants
on just and equitable terms.
| therefore recommend that you
carefully examine this question and
determine the merits of these claims,
to the end that justice may be done in
the premises.
THE PEABODY ENDOWMENT BONDS.
would respectfully invite your at
tention to the memorial of certain
citizens of Maryland, trustees of the
Peabody Institute of Baltimore, touch
ing matter which addresses itself
with peculiar force to our sense of
honor and to our good conscience,
The memorial sets forth clearly and
concisely the particulars of the matter
referred to.
1t appears that in 1875 the late
George Peabody, whose memory is
sacred to all our people, established in
the city of Baltimore the institute
which bears his name, and endowed it
with ample funds. Among other Sc
curities of this endowment were three
hundred bonds of the State Of Tennes-
see. The trustees have held these
bonds ever since, and the interest
thereon has not heen paid for several
years. They now ask that the State
shall recognize its Obligations, and
place these bonds on a par with those
owned by educational institutions
within our State.
In view of the fact that it is always
incumbent upon Us to do right, and Of
the further fact that we have already
received from the magnificent Peabo-
dy Funds, devoted by him to the edu-
cation of the children of the South, a
sum fully equal to, and even greater
than, the aggregate of these bonds, |
cannot refrain from saying that be-
lieve the demand to be reasonable and
just. therefore submit this question
to your Honorable Bodies for your
consideration and action.
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Among the benefcent features OF
modern legislation none find more ia
vor from governments and people
than the promotion Of the public
health.
Many OF our States have established
Boards OF Health, Tennessee is not
behind in this respect, nor is she as
far in advance as she should be-
therefore commend our State Board o
Health to your favorable considera
ton, to the end that such legislation
may be had as will enable it to gather
statistics in reference to marriages
births, and deaths, to the climatology
Of Tennessee, and to the diseases OF
our domestic animals.
PROHIBITION AMENDMENT.
The question of the submission to {
popular vote Of the Prohibition
Amendment to the Constitution o
the State, is now before your Honora
bic Bodies for your action In obedi
enoe to my duty, recommend tina
you submit the question to the peopl
for their decision.
SEDUCTION,